About Harn SerenadaAdvancement track:
Race: Human
Level 1
Paladin's Code:
- I see beauty in others. As a rough stone hides a diamond, a drab face may hide the heart of a saint.
Background:
The circumstances of Harn’s birth is a mystery. He was found as a babe, in a wicker basket hanging from the branches of a grand apple tree decorated with hundreds of small, lit candles by the old painter Tino Benani, who discovered the fey scene on his pilgrimage to one of Shelyn’s temples. Tino brought the boy child with him to the temple, intending to leave him in the care of the priests there. However during the journey, Tino had come to care for the child, and he could not bear to leave him. Instead Tino offered to serve as a priest at the temple, and adopted the boy himself. He named the boy Harn Serenada in loving memory of his wife and child who had both died, prompting his pilgrimage in the first place. Harn’s life in the temple mirrored in many ways that of an ordinary priest. He was educated in worldly matters, and on the teachings of Shelyn. However Harn, who had experience with only a few of the many facets of love, struggled. He understood the love towards a parent, and that kindness begot kindness, but the rose-colored love depicted in many a work of art, or the self-sacrificing love described in plays or literature eluded him. It was not until he was 16, and well on his way to becoming a paladin in the service of Shelyn, that Harn finally understood. As a temple dedicated to Shelyn, the temple had many visiting couples come pledge their love before Shelyn, and receive her blessing as they spoke their vows. One such couple arrived on a beautiful spring morning as Harn sat in the garden, working on a carving of the temples appletree. The young woman immediately caught Harns attention. Harn was captivated. Not only by her beauty, but by her grace, her kindness, and her faith. Unfortunately, she was just as enraptured with him. Drunk with love, They broke her recent vows in the gardens underneath the brances of the appletree as the sun sat. Her husband, enraged by grief and heartbreak, challenged Harn to single combat in hopes of regaining at least a sense of honor. Tino and the priests, furious that Harn’s actions might have compromised the sanctity of the temple, threatened dismissal. Confronted by the anger, frustration and grief of the husband, Harn finally grasped the depth of his malfeasance. Dawn the day of the duel, Harn showed up wielding but a single thorned rose. In the temple gardens, kneeling before the husband, Harn begged forgiveness. The husband struck him down, but just as he was about to deal the finishing blow, he crumbled in tears. The woman, only a spectator at that point, rushed to Harn’s side, tearful and wailing, but suddenly she did not seem so lovely. Harn sensed something. Something he had not sensed before. A strong evil presence emanated from the woman, and Harn was repulsed by her very touch. Snarling, the woman revealed herself; tiny horns, bat-like wings, and a sinuous tail betraying her demonic nature. Holy fire filled the gardens as the succubus escaped towards the sky, laughing at the futile efforts. Harn’s rage burned within him, a golden flame of righteous fire. In one motion he drew his father’s sword and, with a strength fuelled by the divine will of Shelyn herself, threw it. The sword burst into a white blaze as it pierced the flying succubus. There was no scream as the demon fell to the ground, only a silent sigh as the succubus disintegrated into the breeze. As a reward for his valor and heroism, Harn was awarded a golden sword, crafted in the likeness of his own wooden training sword, as well as a holy symbol cast in solid silver. Now, 4 years later and a full-fledged paladin in Shelyn’s service, Harn has come to Sandpoint to celebrate the consecration of the new Sandpoint Cathedral. Maybe sell a few carvings too, if he is lucky. Appearance & Personality:
Harn (pronounced Arn) has a sturdy and muscular, but rather small frame. He has slightly tanned skin and short, golden blode hair. His brown eyes are kind, and reveal a green hue under the right light. He wears a typical varisian scarf over a simple suit of aging but well maintained armor. A sword, with a blade seemingly of gold, is secured along his back with a set of leather straps spanning his torso, going down and fastening at a simple, thick leather belt with a large wooden belt buckle, emblazoned with the holy symbol of Shelyn, from which hangs a single dagger and a belt pouch. After the ordeal with the succubus and his own infraction, Harn's dedication to Shelyn has been unwavering – albeit a bit zealous. He puts a great deal of faith in his god, and as such tend not to worry too much. Some would call him carefree, but he is simply laid back. Harn often meditates on the paladin's code as he carves fine objects of wood, and the thought that his creations might bring joy to others makes him genuinly happy. Having spent the majority of his life up til now in the temple, He can appear a bit naive. Harn is aware of this, and actively works toward bettering himself in that regard. Statblock:
Male human paladin (sacred servant, oath against grotesquery) 1
At-Will—detect evil
Equipment:
Carrying Capacity Light 0-58 lb. Medium 59-116 lb. Heavy 117-175 lb. Current Load Carried 57 ½ lb. Worn
Backpack
Belt Pouch
Special Abilities:
Aura of Good (Ex): The power of a paladin's aura of good (see the detect good spell) is equal to her paladin level. Detect Evil (Sp): At will, a paladin can use detect evil, as the spell. A paladin can, as a move action, concentrate on a single item or individual within 60 feet and determine if it is evil, learning the strength of its aura as if having studied it for 3 rounds. While focusing on one individual or object, the paladin does not detect evil in any other object or individual within range. Smite Evil (Su): 1/day, a paladin can call out to the powers of good to aid her in her struggle against evil. As a swift action, the paladin chooses one target within sight to smite. If this target is evil, the paladin adds her Cha bonus (4) to her attack rolls and adds her paladin level (1) to all damage rolls made against the target of her smite. If the target of smite evil is an outsider with the evil subtype, an evil-aligned dragon, or an undead creature, the bonus to damage on the first successful attack increases to 2 points of damage per level the paladin possesses. Regardless of the target, smite evil attacks automatically bypass any DR the creature might possess. In addition, while smite evil is in effect, the paladin gains a deflection bonus equal to her Charisma modifier (4) to her AC against attacks made by the target of the smite. If the paladin targets a creature that is not evil, the smite is wasted with no effect.
Weapon Focus (greatsword): You gain a +1 bonus on all attack rolls you make using a greatsword.
Signature Moves (social): Your starting equipment includes a gold-plated masterwork greatsword, and you gain a +1 trait bonus on Bluff and Intimidate checks while wielding this item in one or both hands. Unswaying Love (religion): You gain a +2 trait bonus on saving throws against charm or compulsion effects. Zealous (drawback): When you attack a creature that you know worships a different religion than you do, you take a –5 penalty on the attack roll and a +2 trait bonus on the damage roll with your first attack.
Size: You are a Medium creature and thus receive no bonuses or penalties due to your size. Base Speed: You have a base speed of 30 feet. Bonus Feat: Select one extra feat at 1st level. Skilled: You gain an additional skill rank at first level and one additional rank whenever you gain a level. |
